Sue them Mayor Beng!

POLITICAL SUPPORTERS and followers of Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco urged her to file libel charges against those besmirching her reputation as trolls and anti-Climaco groups revived black propaganda and fake news in social media.

Propagandists have again spread photos of the calamity relief tents purchased by the local government at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and comparing it to cheaper camping tents sold in Lazada and Shopee online stores.

But unknown to many, the local government’s calamity relief tents which is fire proof material function and water proof, also come with other accessories such as reversible pillow blanket, weather resistant ceiling fan with super bright LED lamp and batteries that would last 100,000 hours of usage.

The calamity relief tents - purchased by the City General Services Office under Engineer Rene dela Cruz - are for official use under the disposal of the Zamboanga City Risk Reduction and Management Office.

And trolls and political foes of Climaco even revived the prices of rice and other food aid purchased and distributed by the local government to the local residents affected by the health crisis. They also continue to demonize the public in a political attack ahead of next year’s polls, but this is the third and last term of Climaco.

Climaco’s supporters branded as “heartless” the trolls and black propagandists, and political foes who continue to malign and defame the local chief executive amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Even City Hall employees strongly condemned the political and even personal attacks of Climaco. “Bien bueno ya lang gane si Mam Beng. Dol carabao ya gane se ta trabaja desde antes pa hasta ahora, pero el maga ataque con Mam Beng bien terrible, detestable gayod. Lejos pa el ellecion ta destrui ya sila con el persona de Mam Beng,” said one female employee, who asked not to be named for fear of being accused of political partisan.

One of Climaco’s old time supporters, Benito San Jose, said trolls and propagandists are believed being used by the mayor’s political foes and taking advantage of the health crisis that has put extreme pressure to the local government in fighting the pandemic  and taking care of the welfare of the people.

“Beng has her hands full. She is busy running this government and at the same time fighting this health (crisis), the coronavirus (pandemic) while taking care of Zamboangueños and make sure the disease stop spreading,” San Jose said.

“But sad to say, anti-Climaco forces are heartless and they are bent on destroying the mayor because at stake here are the 2022 elections. They are not only heartless, but ruthless. They are political terrorists – these black propagandists and paid trolls are on the offensive now,” he added.

Another follower of Climaco, who claimed to have campaigned hard for her the past decade, blamed the mayor for her “forgiving and compassionate” character. “Beng, being a very religious woman and devoted Christian, is very forgiving. Her compassion for other people and her persona are something that others (politicians) do not have, and that is also why she is being abused. Her kindness is being abused and disrespected by her antagonists for their personal gain and political interest,” he said.

Netizens have repeatedly called on Climaco to sue those defaming and maligning her administration and to file libel charges against trolls and black propagandists besmirching her persona. In posts left on Climaco’s Facebook account, dozens of Netizens defended the hardworking mayor against all criticisms and fake news and false information spread by her foes. Even on Climaco’s Facebook page, trolls and black propagandists leave insulting comments.

Above Board

Last year, in an exclusive interview with the Zamboanga Post, Erwin Bernardo, the chairman the Bids and Awards Committee or BAC has flatly rejected allegations of overpricing in the purchase of some 250,000 bags of rice intended for each household in all 98 villages here affected by the pandemic. 

He said the acquisition of rice went through negotiated procurement under emergency case, particularly in the instance, “when time is of the essence arising from natural or man-made calamities.” 

The BAC approved the purchase of rice at P1,300 per 25 kilo-bag after the supplier, 5MJ Marketing, submitted all legal documents required by laws. The 5MJ Marketing has been joining government biddings since the administration of Mayor Celso Lobregat.

Bernardo explained that in order to determine whether the supplier is technically, legally and financially capable to address the emergency, BAC required 5MJ Marketing to submit the following documents – the PhilGeps (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) Platinum Certificate, Omnibus Sworn Statement, Latest Income Tax Returns and Business Permit. 

He said aside from the submission of the documents, it is very important that the supplier has an excellent track record with the procuring entity.  “It is equally important to use the contents of the PhilGEPS electronic registry of suppliers to determine the eligibility of a supplier relative to its past transactions with other entities of the government,” he told The Zamboanga Post newspaper, adding, “the procurement of rice was done within the bounds of the procurement law and the price is reasonable based on the prevailing market price.” 

Bernardo said the procurement of rice went through the process and it was done within the bounds of the procurement law and the price is reasonable based on the prevailing market price. 

“It cannot be denied that we are in a state of worldwide calamity. Hence, this alternative mode of procurement was resorted to instead of the usual competitive bidding because it relates to time element as the primordial reason,” he said. 

Bernardo further explained that the procedure is, upon receipt of the purchase request together with supporting documents to include the approved budget for the contract from the end-user which is the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, the BAC may directly negotiate with a supplier with technical, legal and financial capability to deliver the goods. And upon confirmation and ascertainment of such capability to address the emergency, the head of the procuring entity, upon recommendation of the BAC, shall immediately award the contract to the supplier. 

He said while rice are sold by retailers and traders at lower price, the Procurement Law (RA 9184) mandates that local government units only transact with “technically, legally and financially” eligible suppliers, that is, compliant with requirements set by law.  

“Inasmuch as we want to buy directly from traders and retailers, requirements of the law (RA 9184) preclude us to do so. The amount of P1,300 per sack was indicated in the purchase request and the approved budget for the contract before it reached the BAC. And upon receipt of the purchase request, the BAC made its own calculation based on the prevailing market price.  During the market survey, the price ranged from P1,120 to as high as P1,250.” 

“Allowing the 10% mark-up under COA (Commission on Audit) rules, the allowable price per sack would be around P1,232 to P1,375.  The 10% mark-up is intended for handling costs, labor costs, other overhead expenses incurred by the supplier and his allowable profits,” Bernardo said. 

He said the BAC cannot settle with the lowest amount only because, considering the instability of supply and abnormal demand in the market, the supply for the lowest priced premium rice may not suffice the demand of the City Government which is 250,000 sacks.  Hence, the ceiling price was pegged at P1,300 so that the supplier can still go for other rice brands of higher price without going beyond the ceiling price. 

Bernardo clarified that the price of rice is variable and can easily change depending largely on the law of supply and demand amid the pandemic. 

“We are in a state of extraordinary times and not normal times where time is of the essence in the procurement process.  The City Government cannot purchase it directly from the retailers or wholesalers, as some would tend to believe, because of the volume of the transaction nor can it split the contract since it is prohibited by law.  It needs the services of the supplier who will buy it from retailers and traders and deliver it and collect (it) later from the (local) government,” he said. 

He also cited that COA allows 10% mark-up on normal or ordinary times and considering the different factors affecting price and supply in the market such as higher labor cost due to scarcity of laborers, doubling of cost of transportation of goods, disruption of normal supply in the market since even ordinary buyers hoarded for their own supply, “the City Government complied with the 10% allowable mark-up during this pandemic to religiously comply with laws and rules. Had the City Government not provided the allowable higher maximum price per sack, we will not be able to procure the needed 250,000 sacks and be able to distribute the same to the people of Zamboanga City, because the supply for the lowest price is not sufficient.” 

Bernardo said the few reported cases of spoiled rice were immediately replaced by the supplier. “As admitted by the supplier, rice spoilage may not be easily detected in big volumes of rice.  The immediate replacement of spoilt or low quality rice signifies the City Government's commitment in assuring that the supplier fully complies with its obligations,” he said. 

Climaco’s political foes have used the rice issue in attacking her despite the transparency and strict processes imposed by the local government in the procurement of welfare goods and other necessities in the middle of the health crisis. (Zamboanga Post)